JACKSON – For two decades veterans have been honored and remembered during a special event at the Christa McAuliffe Middle School.
This year’s Run for Vets began with breakfast for local veterans and included lessons during the school day.
The annual event raised money for veterans and concluded with a series of races and runs on the McAuliffe property.
Beyond the run, the event is a series of projects, lessons, and community connections that keeps the experiences and contributions of veterans alive in the minds of the middle school students.
Several hundred participants helped raise money and gather donations last year which was presented to local veteran organizations.
“We raised approximately $3,500 to be donated to our veterans,” McAuliffe Principal Debra Phillips said. “We had upwards of 20 to 30 veterans at our breakfast and 12 stayed around to speak to our classes. They came into the classrooms, and the library and lunch room to talk to our students.”
Phillips said that a team of McAuliffe teachers run the day’s activities. “We have two lead teachers who spearhead the day, 8th grade literacy teacher Jackie Volpe, and 7th grade science teacher Jennifer Nickerson. This was our 20th anniversary of running this and it was a very important event.
“The way it starts is that we have the veterans come in for a breakfast in the morning. The Jackson Wawa donated all the food and parents came in as well. The students introduced each of the veterans. Some were assigned to them while others were family members they knew,” Phillips said.
Phillips added, “They often thank the school and say how honored they are to be here. After the breakfast and introductions, we have classroom lessons and the veterans also speak about what they did, where they served and what branch of the military they were part of.”
During the school day there were lessons taught and numerous opportunities for students to connect with the visiting veterans.
“A special
thank you goes out to all who helped in any way, and especially to our active
military members and our veterans,’’ Volpe said.
“We
had music, face painting by our honor society students, the mascot, a bake
sale, RC car racing for the vets, and friends, family, and staff members all
having a great time out to honor veterans and active military members,’’ said
Nickerson.
“We have different categories for racing,” Volpe said. Those categories included, the one-mile run, one-mile walk, 3-student relay, mixed relay (two students with one adult), 678 relay (one student from each middle school grade), and the students’ most popular category, the “Golden Boot” and “Golden Flip-Flop” relays.
In this category, the Golden Boot trophy goes to the winning McAuliffe teacher and McAuliffe students relay team (all male).
The “Golden Flip-Flop” trophy is awarded to the winning McAuliffe teacher and McAuliffe students relay team (all female). Medals will also be awarded to the other winning participants of the one-mile run.
The event’s one-mile run/one mile walk and relays also served as a fundraiser. “We raise funds for veterans during the walk. There is a $5 fee and if they buy a T-shirt that is an additional $5. All the funds are donated to a veteran cause and we also have a bake sale and face painting that day. The fundraising part of it though is secondary to honoring all of our veterans and to show them that we appreciate what they have done,” Phillips said.
Run for Vets served as the culmination of the school’s “Honor Our Vets” service-learning initiative. Many teachers and students contribute to this program through activities such as veteran oral history projects, a veteran “wall of fame” honoring veterans who are friends and family of McAuliffe students and staff, decorating the school.
Phillips said that “during the whole month of November our students take part in Operation Shoebox.”
Nickerson said, “the school held “Grade Wars” throughout the month to get students involved. Each gym period was put through a team obstacle course. They had grade level “color wars” and the culminating event is Operation Shoebox where each grade collects supplies to send overseas.
Operation Shoebox partners with schools, churches, corporations and community organizations to share its mission of extending tangible appreciation to those currently in the military and veterans. The group works to ensure that every individual of the armed forces who requests a care package receives one.
“The total donations for Operation ShoeBox were approximately 425 items. The kids get a lot out of this day. They learn a lot and they get to meet the veterans and talk to them. The veterans get to see the students and tell them what they have gone through. It also reminds the students how we need to remember veterans every day,” Phillips said.
